Gigi Davidson, BSPh, DICVP
Director of Clinical Pharmacy Services
NC State College of Veterinary Medicine
What is veterinary pharmacy?
Clinical pharmacy practice
Provide pharmaceutical expertise for variety of patients:
Many species
Many breeds
Unique anatomy and physiology
Unique “jobs” performed for humans
Pharmacists are the only health care professionals that can
care for both humans and animals
Goals Today
Discuss opportunities in veterinary pharmacy
Describe skills and experiences and licensure required
for each opportunity
Describe advanced veterinary training programs
Present ideas to build a resume consistent with
employment in veterinary settings
Opportunities
Veterinary Teaching Hospitals
Veterinary Specialty Referral Hospitals
Veterinary General Practices
Veterinary Retail Outlets
Veterinary Online Outlets
Retail Pharmacies
Industry
Government Sector
opportunities
Veterinary Teaching Hospitals
Veterinary Specialty Referral Hospitals
Veterinary General Practices
Veterinary Retail Outlets
Retail Pharmacies
Industry
Government Sector
Veterinary teaching hospitals
Pharmacists in college of veterinary medicine hospital
Currently :
28 US colleges
5 Canadian colleges
All but 1 employ pharmacists (Oklahoma State University)
Full scope of practice:
Primary care
Tertiary referral care
Ambulatory care
Critical care
The University of Georgia College of
Veterinary Medicine Pharmacy Staff
Veterinary Teaching Hospitals
Three areas of focus:
Service
Research
Teaching
Typical day at work
Morning rounds
Return to pharmacy for DUR/therapeutic intervention
Research and respond to DI questions
Maintain hospital pharmacy operations
Dispensing
Compounding
Client counseling
Clinical studies and research activities
Variety of incidental teaching and consultations
Private Veterinary Specialty Referral Centers
Estimated number 710 in 2011 (14 per state)
Same as veterinary teaching hospital except:
Very high caseload
Minimal research
Minimal teaching
DVM interns and residents
DVM 4th year rotation students
Private Veterinary Specialty Referral Centers
Article measured impact of PharmD on VSRC*
Positive effect on :
Patient care
Patient-well being
Regulatory compliance
Practice revenue
PharmD may additionally specialize in one non-human species
Equine referral centers
Exotic referral centers
Feline referral centers
Aquatic Species (aquariums)
*Dorsey M. Impact of a clinical pharmacist on pain management in a veterinary specialty
referral practice. ASHP 36th Midyear Clinical Meeting, abstract # p-45d New Orleans,
Louisiana, December 2001.
Typical Day at work
Direct patient evaluation/care
Pain management (acute and chronic)
Nutrition management (enteral and TPN)
Diabetes and asthma care
Prescription preparation and dispensing
Drug procurement, distribution, inventory control
Client counseling
Compounding
Regulatory compliance activities (DEA, VMB, FDA)
Veterinary General Practice
Number of practices: 26,000 in 2011
Activities generally same as VSRC but less emphasis on tertiary care
Current model
PharmD contracts with several practices to spend 1-2 days per
week:
Performing DUR and therapeutic intervention
Asthma/Diabetes Clinics
Drug procurement, distribution, inventory control
Compounding
Regulatory compliance
Typical day at work
Morning rounding/chart review
Compliance activities
Regulatory
Therapeutic
Refill clinics
Check drug inventory/procurement/analyze trends
Disease state clinic for clients
Compounding
Veterinary retail outlets
Banfield (PetSmart) 700 hospitals in 2010
Hired first pharmacist in September 2012
National formulary manager
Responsibilities:
Standardize formulary for all 800+ PetSmarts
Develop client education materials
Assist in development of drug treatment protocols
Veterinary online outlets
Order fulfillment for veterinary prescriptions
Growing segment of the veterinary market
NABP accreditation possible: Vet-VIPPS
Community Pharmacy Practice
Large chain:
Target, Kroger, Walgreens
Actively recruiting animal prescriptions
Dedicated veterinary compounding programs
Responsibilities:
Rotating Staff Pharmacist
Currently no dedicated Veterinary PharmD
Credentialed veterinary pharmacists are very competitive
Community Pharmacy Practice
Independent Pharmacies
Historic collaboration with veterinarians and pet
owners
Models:
Mixed community practice
Compounding only – mixed practice
Veterinary only – approved drugs and compounds
Veterinary compounding only
Community Pharmacies
Responsibilities:
Dispensing/counseling activities
Compounding
Pet clinics:
Brown bag medicine evaluation
Asthma clinic (humans and pets)
Diabetes care clinic (humans and pets)
OTC education and warnings
Signage/inservices
Product selection within VCPR
Typical day at work
Depends on what setting/employer enthusiasm
Chris Simmons, vice president of creative compounding
for PCCA
Started as a CVS pharmacist near the Columbus Zoo
Quickly became known as an expert in veterinary
compounding
Now world famous veterinary compounding
pharmacist
Licensure Requirements
If practicing traditional pharmacy (e.g. filling and
dispensing prescriptions, compounding)
MUST BE A LICENSED PHARMACIST
Check with state requirements to see if you must work in
a LICENSED PHARMACY
e.g. NC does not require veterinarians to register with
board of pharmacy, licensed pharmacists can practice
in a licensed veterinary practice
Veterinary Pharmacy Training Programs
Veterinary Pharmacy Residency:
PGY1:
NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine (2)
University of California Davis College of Vet Medicine (2)
Purdue University College of Vet Medicine (1)
PGY2:
Option to extend 1 yr at UCD
Veterinary Pharmacy Training Programs
PY4-5 Experiential rotations:
60% of colleges of veterinary medicine accept
pharmacy students on rotation
Elective rotations in veterinary practices, zoos,
aquariums
Veterinary Pharmacy Professional Organizations
Society of Veterinary Hospital Pharmacists (svhp.org)
$25.00/yr for student or associate membership
American College of Veterinary Pharmacists
(vetmeds.org) Free
Gathering Competitive Experience
Identify a veterinary care mentor
Veterinarian
Veterinary Pharmacist
Veterinary Drug Regulator
Veterinary Industry Leader
Volunteer/Intern now!
Resume Boosters
Volunteerism
Course work
Community projects:
Interventions (signage/posters/inservices) on vet pharmacy
topics
Classroom interactions with primary school students
Brown bag medication identification/drug interactions at vet
clinics/shelters
Publications/Research: newsletters, articles, posters, presentations
Veterinary Pharmacy Clubs
Resume boosters
Letters of reference from dedicated veterinary
professionals
Be prepared to paint a clear picture of your future in
veterinary pharmacy and what a perfect job day would
look like from your perspective
Questions? Comments?
http://svhp.org/contact-us/